These words are from author, founder of the Gonzo journalism movement, counter culture icon and avid biker Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005) They are in evidence on this awesome custom Triumph with which, no doubt, he would have fell in love for its mean look. Thompson even defined love as the feeling you get when you like someone or something as much of your motorcycle….

Built by Death Machines Of London (no, they don’t build motorcycles designed to cause death) and named “Up Yours, Copper”, this Triumph beauty was resurrected from the remains of a 2007 Thruxton 900i. In the words of shop owner James: “it was a bastard to create, one bloody thing after another. Newly finished tank got dropped, drill bits snapped, lathe broke, blood got spilt” and many other episodes to be forgotten.

First, the original frame got cleaned from all the factory tabs with all welds smoothed out and a brand new rear section being grafted. The Thruxton parallel-twin engine – the sportier version of the Bonneville powerplant, was fully rebuilt with hallmark Café Racer modifications including heads work and a remapping to suit a very interesting and unusual custom exhaust system. Velocity stacks are a thing of beauty with mirror polished interior surface, etched brass grills and DMOL logo inlays. For aesthetics, engine covers are powder coated and cam cover copper plated.

The bespoke exhaust uses ceramic coated pipes and a carbon fiber muffler exiting through the rear taillight cluster. Yes, it can be done without melting the light plastic housing (11 light units had to be sacrificed before figuring that out…) thanks to the ceramic pipes expelling lots of heat before reaching the muffler and using extra heat shielding for more heat protection with no part touching the light cluster.

All over the Thruxton some other appealing fab work and details include: the one-off bars welded from underneath to a slotted top clamp; the hand-formed headlight cowl; the in-house machined levers and grips with the right side working as an internal throttle and left side featuring finger-tip controls for the lighting and horn; the machined foot pegs with the shop signature single-spiral knurl pattern. Interestingly, toggle switches come from a 1940 Supekrmarine World War II Spitfire fighter jet. Why not? The first magneto sets the bike live, while toggling the second engages the starter motor.

“Up Yours, Copper” wheels setup is a front 19” x 2.5” wrapped with Avon Trail Rider 100/90×19” tire and a rear 17” x 3.5” dressed with a 160/60×17” Avon Trail Rider rubber. Both were electroplated in copper, then laced using black anodized spokes and nipples. Final touch is a simple but to the point paint job for this type of bike, glossy and matte black in contrast to copper and brushed aluminum to emphasize the bike beautiful details. A damn fast and pretty looking Cafe Racer. To end this feature one more quote from Hunter S. Thompson: “Freedom is something that dies unless it’s used.” So, at least, ride. Death Machines Of London (photography @ David Clerihew)